Nice to hear

It's always great to hear a professional compliment you on your horse's training/behavior and that's what happened today.

#4 came out again after a very long week waiting for her.

As expected, Mag was even better this time, completely chill, never rein-grabbing of fussing, and when I would have to stop and catch my breath on the hills, he stood like a statue.

I was able to show her the complete 1-hour loop (which turns out to be 1.25 hours, oops, that's as fast as I can walk!). She commented how gorgeous the trail is and I said, "I'm spoiled from America, but this is the very best one!" It's a single track which makes me feel like I'm back home.

Halfway along the single track she said, "Your horse is very sure-footed! Mine would be tripping over all these roots and stones."

It was great to hear that she appreciates Mag's way of going on the rough terrain. I know that even on the most sedate, ancient horse, I still feel nervous if the horse repeatedly trips (Momo the Haflinger, Galim the Arab, Star Island the Traber (though he was just off the track, so..).

She said, "Are you sure you don't wanna ride? I'm just having fun up here." I said, "Next week, and I'll show you his lateral moves on trail." See, both #4 and S1 who recommended her told me it's not fair to ask a horse to do dressage in the woods. Seeing how Mag can react to it, I understand but I've managed to use the wider trails (roads) to teach some dressage. In fact our last trainer remarked, "Did YOU teach that horse to half-pass?" to which I replied, "Leg yield, yes." She's a Western rider so should be forgiven for not knowing the difference. Wow that sounds cocky but I'm still bitter about giving someone money for basically nothing.

Then, to my utter delight,  she said, "I like the way Mag slows and gathers himself while going down steep hills." I suddenly flashed back 2016 with Mag - his first downhill. We both fell down, it was ROTFL funny. I tried leading him down a steep slope, which turned out to be so steep I fell on my butt, and he did the same, and we slid on our butts in synchrony to the bottom. When we both got up, his tail was full of mud and leaves, all the way to his dock.

My first year of riding him down hills was a catastrophe. I'd never experienced a horse before who had no idea how to manage it. I know it's hard to fathom but this was his method: 1.)  Brace both forelegs completely straight to take the brunt of gravity's pull. 2.) Begin SKIING down the hill with the forelegs, and 3.) Let the back legs stumble along tripping their way down behind the body. It was super unsettling to ride, and it was every single hill. He knew no other way.

I started leading him down the steepest hills I could find and then making him take only one step at a time. He had to pause his body and just hang there fighting gravity until I let him take the next step. There is an endurance guru in Utah (a German guy?) who will take his horses to the steepest sand slopes in Utah and then halt them *halfway down*, for 10 minute at a time, so their entire bodies are fighting gravity. He's very succesful in Utah.

I made up a song for the exercise, which I will not sing for you but it goes something like this, "Nice and slow." Those are the only lyrics, repeated. : )

I think he got my mantra and eventually I was able to ride him down a hill without him skiing, but taking one step at a time. What a miracle!

That she noticed today, after I'd nearly forgotten the struggle, what a good day.

Again it's a warm Sunday afternoon, and there were a lot of e-bikes in the woods today. One couple hesitated before passing us, asking if it's OK. I said, "Yes, and especially if you talk to us like you're doing!" The trail was pretty narrow there so I'm glad they didn't just soar by us.

#4 is simply the best - according to Mag. The way he let her on his back today, with only a shimmer of hesitation.

On our street, nearly home, my neighbor left her house door open and I noted it because that is different. Suddenly her dog shot out full speed from that doorway, barking and raging at Mag, who just passing at that moment. I am in awe - Mag just raised his head a little, switched his ears back to the storming loud dog and did not even flinch. "Oh, another dog attacking me. Whatever." I seriously did not drug my horse!

***

Oh, I forgot to tell you - I let Ani try to ride Mag on Wednesday. See, I've been so high from 4's success, I thought it's time to let Ani try again after what, 2 years? She's been yearning for it all along. She thinks Mag walks on water. (And told me he'd walk through fire for me, to which I responded, "But will he walk through water for me?")

Wednesday did not go so smoothly. Mag really is picky about people and the moment she settled onto his back, he started rushing backwards, I couldn't even catch up to them to help her put her foot in the stirrup, he was so upset. He spent the first 15 minutes of their ride almost-jigging. Not quite jigging, but flicking each hoof off the ground in agitation, though still technically at a walk.

After 15 minutes he gave a deep sigh and just accepted Ani again. He relaxed and walked normally, and gave her a precious 15 minutes of fun. After, she was overjoyed, hugging him and calling him all her nicknames, "little boy" and "tiny horse." I was so relieved. 

She is looking forward to doing it again, and I'm willing to let her, when I'm there. 

Just as the seller told me, "Mag only lets some people on his back." We'll see if Ani can become one.

***

#4 dismounted and said, "This is the calmest Arabian horse I've ever ridden." I wondered if it was the food-coma I induced before. Is it cheating to fill a horse with a warm beet pulp mash before someone rides? Hm!

She said next time I will ride and she will be there for me. I'm looking forward to it. This lady has given me hope, and I see that she has given my blog readers hope as well.

She also said her horse trailer will be done with its yearly inspections next month (sort of like emissions in America, but for all vehicles).

I took her a few minutes out of the way of our loop to show her the Talsperre, the big watershed, which you can sadly rarely see, even close to it. From that viewpoint she looked in all directions and I was happy to say:

"If we ride to our right, I can show you a trail that goes all the way to Bechen, if you know it (she did). With only the need to cross ONE paved road! And if we ride to our left from here, there's the Bayer Bush loop, which is a very nice 2 hour loop."

For Bechen we'd need to bring a lunch, that will be 5 hours. And I'm really good at packing picnics in my saddle bags.

She and I talked a great deal about her one and only endurance ride, 25km (16 miles). (Yes, they go that low in Europe.) She loved it and her horse was fit enough to manage it. I liked how she said, "I think any horse who is ridden regularly, and is healthy, can complete a 16 mile endurance ride." : )

That she had a singular experience with an endurance ride, European style, bonds me to her even more.

***

Looking forward! God protect this lady from Corona so I can take her to these places on her own mare and me on Mag! (She rides a home-grown level 4 dressage Hannoveraner mare named Lilifee.)

It's been a while since I've had something to look forward to. I want to go HOME so badly and see my family and smell the PNW.

As soon as I can fly again, I'm home.